Approval rates
Comparing approval rates requires looking at consistent timeframes. While your judge's overall approval rate on record since 2017 is 49%, recent performance shows a 55% approval rate in the latest reporting period. This sits against a broader office bench range of 37% to 68% for judges with records at the San Diego office. These figures provide a statistical baseline for understanding the hearing environment, though they do not predict the outcome of your specific hearing.
Office- and national-level breakdowns of fully favorable vs denial rates aren't currently published by SSA in the per-office disposition data. The judge's own breakdown is the detail we have today.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Messer's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The approval rate for Kevin W. Messer has shown variation over the 2,868 decisions on record since 2017. Following a period of lower approval rates between 2019 and 2020, the trend has seen a gradual recovery. The latest reporting period shows an approval rate of 55%, which is higher than the long-term average. This recent performance reflects the most current data available for this judge.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Messer's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the San Diego hearing office
Kevin W. Messer's most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office, as of July 2026. This office serves claimants throughout the region and maintains a bench of 15 judges. The office-wide latest-period approval rate is 58%, providing a point of reference for the local hearing environment.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is San Diego
The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm, meaning the judge you are assigned is essentially random. There are 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego office. Approval rates across this bench vary significantly, ranging from 37% to 68% on their records since 2016. Your preparation remains the same regardless of which judge you are assigned.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Kevin W. Messer has an approval rate of 49% across 2,868 decisions on record since 2017. This falls within the 37% to 68% range observed among the 15 judges whose most recent office on record is the San Diego hearing office. An attorney can help you understand how these local patterns might relate to your specific medical evidence.
Yes, the approval rate for Kevin W. Messer has fluctuated over time. After reaching a low point in 2020, the approval rate has trended upward, reaching 55% in the latest reporting period. If you are concerned about how these trends affect your hearing, an attorney can help you prepare your case.
No, you cannot choose your judge. The Social Security Administration assigns cases through a workload-balancing algorithm to ensure efficiency. Because assignment is random, it is important to be prepared for any judge at the San Diego office. An attorney can help you prepare for your hearing regardless of the judge assigned.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where a judge reviews your medical records and hears testimony regarding your ability to work. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your limitations. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific questions and procedures you will face at your hearing.
A judge's approval rate is a statistical reflection of past decisions and does not predict the outcome of your specific hearing. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and how well you document your functional limitations. An attorney can help you ensure your case is as strong as possible before you appear before Kevin W. Messer.
